Germany’s handball women brilliantly passed the penultimate endurance test before the European Championship. The DHB selection around the outstanding goalkeeper Katharina Filter won at the start of a three-country tournament against host Hungary with 31:20 (17:12) and got more self-confidence for the European Championship finals starting on Friday.
In front of 3,500 spectators in Tatabánya, Meike Schmelzer, Xenia Smits, Johanna Stockschläder and Julia Maidhof, each with four goals, were the top scorers for the team headed by national coach Markus Gaugisch, who are contesting the European Championship dress rehearsal against Romania at the same venue on Wednesday.
Michalczik fails for the EM
There was bad news before kick-off: backcourt player Marie Michalczik suffered a hand injury in the final training session on Sunday and will not be able to play in the European Championship. The next moment of shock followed after less than 15 minutes when left winger Antje Döll injured his knee without opposition and had to leave the field. A diagnosis was initially pending.
However, the DHB selection was not impressed by this and controlled the game from the start. Up to 11:4 (18th minute) the German team hardly made any mistakes in defense and attack, which Gaugisch followed with satisfaction on the sidelines. Even when the Hungarians came within three goals to make it 12:9 (24th), the DHB team didn’t lose their line.
Filter parried 19 throws
Even after the change, Germany had the opponent under control. Starting with the strong goalkeeper Katharina Filter, who parried 19 throws, through the aggressive cover to the variable attacking game, it was a successful performance that gave courage for the European Championship. German opponents in the preliminary round are Poland, Spain and co-hosts Montenegro.
“I saw a very motivated and hot team,” Gaugisch summed up: “The interaction between the goalkeeper and the defense worked very well. I also saw a lot of good things in the second wave and in the attacking game.”